The Sept. 10 meeting also brought a new chipper for the service department, a housing update from the building department and a 9/11 remembrance from the mayor
Macedonia City Council met Sept. 10 for a meeting that mixed routine business with two infrastructure purchases and the first look at a new rule for homeowners who pull their own building permits.
Council approved a contract for a Ledge Road drainage project and a new wood chipper for the service department. Members also heard the opening pitch on an ordinance that would require homeowners to sign a waiver before doing permitted work themselves.
Ledge Road storm sewer contract approved
Council passed Ordinance 59-2026, authorizing Mayor Nicholas Molnar to sign a contract with Northeast Ohio Trenching Services for the Ledge Road storm sewer project.
City Engineer Joe Gigliotti said the project will enclose an oversized, exposed ditch on the north side of Ledge Road, just east of Freeway Drive. He described it as both a safety fix and a drainage improvement, noting the ditch sits close to the roadway and has been tied to past vehicle issues. Gigliotti said the work will not change the existing drainage flow, only cover it, and should also reduce erosion along the roadside that service crews have had to manage. The ordinance passed on its first, second and third readings the same night.
New chipper approved for service department
Council also passed Ordinance 60-2026, authorizing the purchase of a new 19XP drum style chipper from Earthworks Equipment through the Source Well Cooperative Purchasing Program.
Director of Public Service Dan Wilson said the department is replacing two aging chippers, one from 1991 and one from 2000, that are no longer worth repairing. He said the department fields near daily calls for chipping and storm related debris, and a working chipper allows the city to offer more help to residents. Wilson said the new equipment should arrive by the end of the year, in time for spring use. The purchase also passed on all three readings.
Homeowner permit rule gets first reading
Council introduced Ordinance 61-2026 for its first reading. The measure would amend the city’s codified ordinances on permitting and contractor licensing.
Building Commissioner Nino Monaco explained the proposal to council. Under the change, a homeowner who wants to pull a permit for work on their own property would have to sign an affidavit acknowledging personal responsibility for the job, including calling for required inspections. Monaco said the city currently has no reliable way to follow up when a resident never schedules an inspection after getting a permit, though a new department software system is expected to flag those cases automatically going forward.
Monaco told council the goal is not to make it harder for residents to do their own work, but to make sure they understand what they are taking on. He noted that homeowners retain the right to pull their own permits, and the city cannot deny that request. He added that the affidavit is meant to work as a safety check, particularly for higher risk trades like electrical and plumbing work, where a mistake can be dangerous rather than just costly.
Monaco pointed to recent cases in which residents skipped a permit and hired contractors directly, only to end up with work that had to be redone after the contractor failed to perform it correctly. In those instances, using a properly licensed and registered contractor gave the city grounds to pursue the contractor’s insurance or bond for repairs. Monaco said that protection is a key reason the city continues to encourage residents to hire registered contractors rather than take on higher risk work themselves.
During discussion, council members raised questions about how much discretion a future building commissioner would have to grant exceptions under the ordinance, and how the language defining who qualifies as a “homeowner or permanent resident” might be interpreted. One member asked to hold the ordinance for further review before a second reading so members can look more closely at the affidavit language. A separate idea also came up: requiring contractors who pull permits on a homeowner’s behalf to disclose when they bring in subcontractors, so residents know who is actually doing the work. That idea is not part of the current ordinance, but a member asked to revisit it separately.
Mayor’s report includes 9/11 remembrance
Mayor Molnar kept his report brief, turning quickly to Thursday’s anniversary. He asked for a moment of silence “for all the lost souls of that terrible day 25 years ago,” referring to the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Committee and department updates
Council heard several short reports. The Parks and Recreation Commission will meet again Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Recreation Center, and the Finance Committee met earlier the same evening. The Cemetery Committee, on its off year for regular meetings, will convene Sept. 24 between the work session and the regular council meeting.
Wilson followed with a broader service department update. He thanked council for its continued support and said the department is hiring for open maintenance technician positions. He also credited service crews for their work during the recreation center’s shutdown. Summer flower plantings that survived will be moved to Fall Fest, Wilson said, adding that many did not do well this year for reasons the department has not pinned down.
Gigliotti gave a brief follow up on infrastructure funding. He confirmed that applications for two Ohio Public Works Commission grants, covering North Bedford Road paving and Empire Parkway reconstruction, were submitted to the state Sept. 9. The city is hoping for outside funding on both projects.
Recreation center reopens after shutdown
Recreation Director Peter Eckendorf told council the Recreation Center reopened Tuesday after a planned weeklong shutdown, and thanked Wilson’s crew for their help during that closure. The facility’s activity pool stayed closed for the rest of the week and is expected to reopen Monday, Sept. 14.
Eckendorf also reported that a new restroom facility at Sugarbush Park was installed over the weekend. He closed by previewing Fall Fest, set for Sept. 26 from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Longwood Park. The event is open to Nordonia Hills residents, Macedonia Recreation Center members and their guests, and Nordonia Hills school district employees.
Finance director addresses tax refunds
Director of Finance John Veres gave a short update, saying the city is still processing refunds for Macedonia residents who filed for an extension with RITA, the Regional Income Tax Agency. Veres said the city welcomes those refund requests as they come in.
Building department reports on new housing
Monaco returned to give the building department’s monthly development report. He said the city issued an occupancy permit last week for Divinity Landing, a 54 unit development, with 34 units already committed as of Sept. 3. In response to a council question, Monaco confirmed move ins there are expected to begin Sept. 18, with the only remaining task being installation of a sign at the property.
Monaco also updated council on Poulte Valley Reserve, where 18 homes have sold. He said the development’s spec home is nearing completion, six permits have been issued, four homes are currently under construction, and seven more permits have been approved and are awaiting payment before work begins.
Fire and police give brief updates
Fire Chief Brian Ripley told council the department’s new administrative assistant started Aug. 31 and has settled in well. Ripley reminded residents that the city’s services open house is set for Oct. 7 at the fire bays, opening with a swearing in ceremony for police officers, firefighters and dispatchers hired over the past year, followed by equipment displays and food trucks. Ripley also said the department will hold a brief 9/11 memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday at the beam retired Fire Chief Tim Black obtained from the World Trade Center.
Police Chief Vince Yakopovich followed with a short report, reminding residents the department is still accepting applications for entry level police officer and dispatcher positions through the city’s website.
No new business, meeting adjourned
Council reported no unfinished or new business beyond the questions on the Divinity Landing move in date. Members voted to adjourn following the reports.
Frequently asked questions
What did Macedonia City Council approve at the Sept. 10 meeting? Council approved a contract for the Ledge Road storm sewer project and the purchase of a new wood chipper for the service department. It also gave first reading to a proposed ordinance on homeowner permits.
What is the Ledge Road storm sewer project? It is a plan to enclose an oversized, exposed ditch on the north side of Ledge Road near Freeway Drive to improve both roadway safety and drainage, without changing the area’s existing water flow.
What would the new homeowner permit ordinance require? Under the proposed rule, homeowners who pull their own permits for work on their property would have to sign an affidavit acknowledging their responsibility for the work and for scheduling required inspections. It has only had a first reading and has not passed.
When will Divinity Landing residents start moving in? Building Commissioner Nino Monaco told council move ins are expected to begin Sept. 18, with the property’s sign installation the only task left.
When is Macedonia’s Fall Fest this year? Fall Fest is scheduled for Sept. 26 from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Longwood Park, open to Nordonia Hills residents, Macedonia Recreation Center members and their guests, and school district employees.
